Display cabinet



July'27, 1937. J. v. FLOOD 2,087,904 yDISPLAY CABINET Filed Dec. 5, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 INV ENTOR July 27, 1937. J. v. FLOOD DISPLAY CABINET Filed Deo. 5, 1952 2 sheets-Sheet 42 A l'NvENToR Jose cabinet.

Patented July 27, 1937 genti er cries DISPLAY CABINET Joseph Flood,

Southbridge, Mass.

Application December 5,1932, Serial No. 645,783

3 Claims.

` This invention relates to improvements in display vcabinets and has particular reference to improved means and method of making the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved display cabinet having lseparable units which may be disuni'ted and packed in compact relation with each other for ease inl shipping and which may be quickly and easily assembledv for use.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved means and method vof form- A ing a cabinet having transparent walls, adjustable shelves and means for gaining access to the interior of the cabinet `arranged in such a manner displayed outY of doors and be protected from L g weather conditions.

` Another object is to provide a cabinet having separable units formed with intereng'aging means for uniting and sealing the cabinet against the .entrance of moisture. v l

Another object is toY provide novel means for gaining access to the interior rof the cabinet and method of making same.

Another object is to provide unitary means for aiding inv supporting the side walls, doors, and shelf holding means of the cabinet and having connecting zones for the top and bottom of said Another object is to kprovide a novel structure whereby the glass walls of the `cabinet may be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

Another object is to provide a cabinet having novel means for supporting display cards or other y advertising data.

Another object is to provide improved means. and method of forming a removable top having means thereon `for shielding `the jointsatl the upper ends of the doors againstl the entrance of moisture.

Another object is to provide a'novel base structure and method of making same. p

Another object is to provide` novel means of `forming a `display cabinet having aAstorage cornpartment therein and method of making the 35eme l i (Cl. S12-1.14)

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descripn tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be understood that many changes may be vmade in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown and described, without departing from the spirit of vthe invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction, arrangements of parts and methods shown and described, as the preferred forms only have been `shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I bodying the invention;

Fig. II is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the display card holding means on the top of the cabinet;

Fig III is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. I, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

lV is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. I land looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

' Fig. V is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line V--V of Fig. I and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. VI is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View partially in section showing a portion of the interior of the cabinet and the structural details A of' said cabinet;

Fig. VII is a sectional view taken on line VII- `VII of Fig. VI;

Fig.'VIII is a slightly enlarged sectional View taken on line VIII- VIII of Fig. I and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. IX is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line IX-IX of Fig. I and looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. X is a. view similar to Fig. VII showing a modification; and Fig. XI is a fragmentary sectional View of a yfurther modication.

4Io meet the requirements of the modern business trend automobile refueling stations have -i'ound it necessary to keep on hand a relatively large stock of automobile accessories and various other supplies, such as cleaning and polishing compounds, oils, top dressings. retouchpaints, etc. It has been found from past experience that although necessary to carry this stock the sales is a perspective View of the device emthereoi^ are somewhat limited. One of the causes of this condition has been found in the past to be due to the fact that only a few individuals entering the yard of a refueling station ever get out of their cars or enter the station building in which the goods are displayed. To overcome this condition and to place the goods on display where they may be seen by all entering the station yard, applicant has devised a display cabinet which may be placed in, the vicinity of the fuel pumps and in which the goods may be displayed and be protected from weather conditions. To accommodate for lack of storage room in some instances, particularly in small stations, applicant has further provided novel means whereby a storage compartment may be formed in the cabinet. It has been found from experience that a display cabinet ci this type greatly increases the sales of articles such as referred to above, and that it opens a new and essential field to small dealers. 'Ifne cabinet is designed to be simple, inexpensive and durable in structure, and adapted particularly for use in displaying articles of commerce out of doors. It is apparent that it may be adapted to many diiierent uses either interiorly or eX- teriorly, and all of which are included. in this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises broadly, four separate units, two oi which constitute the ends I of the cabinet, another the bottom 2, and the other the top These units are constructed with interrelated parts wl. ich may be quickly and easily united by bolts or other means l to support the separate side wall members and a plurality of adjustable shelves ii of glass, metal or other suitable material internally of 'the cabinet. Each unit is designed to carry a predetermined amount ci the detailed elements of the cabinet and is adapted to position the said elements in desired relation with each other when the units are. assembled for use. The purpose of forming the cabinet in separate units is to provide means whereby the cabinet may be quickly and easily disunited the parts thereof placed in compacted relation with each other for ease in shipping. It also permits permanently welding or otherwise sealing the several joints of the detailed parts of the units during the manufacture thereof to provide a rigid and durable structure suitable for general use out of doors.

The bottom 2 as shown in Figs. III, IV and IX, is preferably formed of sheet material which is pressed or otherwise formed with depending peripheral lip portions 'i which turn outwardly to angular step portions 3 on which the lower edge of the side walls 5 are placed and held by plates or other means 9. The portion 9 is bent downwardly at I9 and outwardly at II to an angular flange portion having a hem I3 adjacent its edge turned inwardly to reinforce said edge. The portions i@ adjacent the corners of the ba-se are provided with openings lli through which the connecting bolts t may be placed, as shown in Fig. IX, to secure the end units I to the base 2. The plates 9 are welded or otherwise secured to the downwardly extending portions I9.

The end units I, as shown in Figs. I, III and V to IX inclusive, comprise a main frame having its side pieces formed of strips of sheet material which are bent to longitudinal right angle corner members l5 having portions I5 which are adapted to overlie the vertical edges of the side walls 5 to aid in supporting the side walls 5 on the steps 8. The said members I5 also have portions I1 which extend at right angles to the portions I6 and are bent inwardly to form recessed right angle frame members I8 in which the end door members I9 are tted. The recessed right angle members I8 form an abutment for the sides of the doors I9 and are provided with a plurality of openings 2U, as shown in Figs. V to VIII inclusive, by means of which the shelf holding means 2l may be adjustably secured to the said members I8 by bolts or other means 22. The adjustable shelf holding means 2l are adapted to support the shelves 6 internally of the cabinet.

Attention is directed to the fact that the door members I9 are adapted to overlie the said openings 2l) and shelf holding means 2| when in closed position and that the corner members I5 pro- Vide unitary means for supporting the side walls 5, doors I 9 and adjustable shelf holding means 2 I.

The said corner members I5 are provided internally, as shown in Figs. VI to VIII inclusive, with angle brace members 35 having portions 36 which are secured to the portions I1 by welding or other means. 'I'he said members 35 are also provided with portions 31 extending at an angle to the portions 36 and lying in spaced substantially parallel relation with the portions I9 to form a support for the internal vertical edges of the side walls 5. The said portions I9 and 31 are provided with edges 38 and 39 which are deflected towards each other to form relatively resilient means for engaging the said side walls 5 on the opposite sides thereof and at an appreciable distance inwardly from their peripheral vertical edges. They provide means for supporting the said peripheral edges in spaced relation with the portions I6 and 31 and form relatively resilient shock and strain'- absorbing means at said edges. The said deflected portions also permit ease in removing and replacing the side walls 5 and maintain a snug t with said walls to aid in preventing the entrance of moisture at said connections.

A cross piece 23 having an inturned right angle lip 24 at its opposite ends as shown in Figs. V and VI, is secured to the corner members I5 adjacent the tops thereof by welding or other means. The said cross piece 23 is adapted to aid in holding the members I5 in predetermined spaced relation and is bent inwardly at 25 along one of its longitudinal edges an amount substantiahy equal to the thickness of the door I9 and thence turns downwardly at a right angle to a hemmed edge 29 which forms an abutment for the upper end of the door. To further insure the supporting of the corner members I5 in proper spaced relation, a brace member 21 is secured adjacent its ends to the bottoms of said corner members by welding or other means, as shown in Fig. I.

The doors I9 are preferably formed of sheet material which is bent on all sides to form right angle peripheral lips 23 which are turned inwardly at 29 to form a reinforcing hem. The

said peripheral lips 28 are secured to each other` vided with a lock 33 to secure them in closed A Vdisplay cards or other advertising data.

vaoszeoli.

position. A frame 34 formed ofstrips of angled doors.' Attention isvdirected to the fact that the abutments I8, 26 and `8 as set forth above form means for aiding in sealing the peripheral edges of the doors against the entrance of water.

The shelf holding means 2i are preferably formed of strips of sheet material which are bent or otherwise formed `to right angle members vwhich may be placed at varying heights in the cabinet by selecting the retaining holes 20 of the properl height.

One of the unique features ofthe end units I is that none of the separate elements, including the corner members I5, shelf holding means, doors, etc., are disturbed when the cabinet is disunited for shipping.

The top 3 is formed of separate pieces of sheet material which are cutto shape and bent at their engaging edges to form abutting portions 43 which are welded or otherwise secured and sealed together as shown in Figs. V and VI. The said pieces areprovided with depending peripheral side lip portions lil which t over the upper ends of the side Walls 5 and end units VI. The lip portions lI along the sides of the top 3 are deiiected inwardly at 42, as shown in Fig. VI, to provide relatively resilient snug fitting means for engaging the side walls 5 at an appreciable distance fromthe upper edges of said walls. These edges provide relatively resilient shock absorbing supporting means which aid in preventing the entrance of Water at said connections. The lip portions 4I at the ends of the top 3 are bent outwardly at 43 and. upwardly at i4 to form eave members which are adapted to overlie the tops of the doors to`aid in preventingthe entrance of water in the vicinity of' said tops. removably held in position by bolts or other means 4 which are placed in the `openingsjll in the members I'I and 35, and the openings 45 in the lip portions 4I. The said openings d5 and 46 are adapted to assume an aligned relation with each other when the top 3 is in position of use.

fTo provide additional means for supporting display cards or otherl advertising data the top 3 is provided with Ushaped supports Il which by plates lf3 secured to the exterior of the sheet are hinged at 4B to brackets l5 secured to the top 3 by rivets or other means 50. Thesaid supports 41 are hinged so that they may be folded in close relation with the top 3 for ease in shipping and are vadapted to be held in an upright position by a plate 5I or by the advertising cards, etc., as desired. Although the top 3 is shown and described as being formed of separate pieces secured together, it is apparent that it may be formed of a single sheet of material pressed, bent, or otherwise shaped as desired.

Attention is also directed to the fact that each of the units I, 2 or 3 and parts thereof, may be formed of separate pieces of material secured together or formed of pieces pressed, bent, cut, moulded, or otherwise shaped as desired.

To disunite the cabinet it is merely necessary to remove the top 3, lift out the side walls 5, remove the shelves 6, and detach the units I from the base 2. The separate units I, 2, and 3 may then be placed in compact relation with each other for purpose of shipping and may be quickly and easily'assembled for use.

Although applicant has described his door:

' the door 62.

pluralityof openings 53 in which the shelf sup- The top 3 is j members as being at the ends of the cabinet it will be understood that they may be placed at the sides or only one door may be used if desired,

either at one end or side, and that the transparent side walls 5 may be placed at the ends as 'well as at the sides of the cabinet, it being merely a question of forming the parts to proper dimensions.

Attention is also directed to the fact that any desired material may be used in forming any of the parts and that any suitable means may be used to secure the said parts together. If desired, the abutments 8, I8 and 25 of the doors,

the supporting lips I5 and 3l for the side walls 5 and the shelves 8 at the bottom of said walls may be provided with a liner of rubber, cork, felt or other means to form water tight connections.

In Fig. X there is shownv a slight modication wherein the corner members are formed only with a portion 53 having a deflected edge 54 forl engaging the side walls @il and an angled portion 55 to which an inner angled support member 56 l is secured by welding or other means along the 59 for engaging and supporting the side walls Si) internally thereof and a recessed right angled portion i forming a framing and abutment for The portion 5I is provided with a porting bolts. {5f/l may be placed to adjustably secure the shelf holding means 55 to said portion iii. TheV door 52 and hinge arrangement 65 in this instance is similar to that of the structure previously described.

' In Fig. XI there` is shown a further modification wherein instead of extending the side walls y5 or Elli downwardly to the steps 3, the said walls are terminated approximately at thelocation of the lower shelf 5. supported with their lower edges in approximate alignment with the lower sheli` 5 by side members` 5l' formed of sheet material having their upper edges bent inwardly at a right angle an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the side walls 5 or 5b to form a shelf 5t on which the said walls are rested.

The shelf @t is provided with an upwardly bent portion 63 which is adapted to form an internal backing member for the lower edges of the walls- The said walls 5 or 56 are supported outwardly material 5'! by welding or other means. The sheet material is bent inwardly at an angle at its sides 'II and bottom 'l2 an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the walls 5 and is adapted to be removably placed between the outer and inner supporting portions I5 and 3l, or 53 and 58, ofthe corner members I5 or 52, as the case may be. The lower` angled end 'I2 of the sheet material 5l is adapted 'to rest on the step 8 of the base 2, and is held thereon by the plates 9 in a manner similar to that of the side Walls 5 previously described, or by any suitable means.

The object of forming the lower part of the cabinet with the removable side sheets 6l is to provide means of forming a storage compartment in which surplus stock of the type on display in the cabinet may be placed. The lower shelf I5 in this instance may be made of sheet metal or other opaque material if desired. The shelves 6 and side walls 5 are preferably made of plate glass but may be made of any desirable material.

The walls in this instance are* The cabinet may be illuminated interiorly by any suitable illuminating means, such as long tubular lamps built in the corners of the cabinet or by reflective means, and may be illuminated exteriorly by any type of illuminating means.

It is quite obvious that the cabinet may be supplied either with or without a storage compartment and that the said compartment may be quickly and easily formed by sliding the members 6'.' in the supporting portions i5 of the units l. The side walls 5 in this instance are somewhat shorter and are placed above the members Si. In either arrangement none of the structural details of the main elements i, 2 or 3 as previously described are changed. Itis also apparent that the storage compartment may be formed above or below the display compartment as desired.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be seen that applicant has provided simple, efficient and inexpensive means and methods of accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A display cabinet comprising separable major units, one of said units constituting the top of the cabinet, another the bottom, two others of relatively iiat sheet material the sides, and two others the ends ci said cabinet, said end units comprising opposed longitudinal edge frame structures each formed of superimposed angled members each of which is provided with adjacent inturned longitudinal edges substantially the entire length thereof forming channel portions for detachably receiving and aiding in supporting the peripheral edges of the relatively fiat sides and having connecting zones adjacent their op-posite ends for the attachment of the top and bottom units, one of said angled members having an angled longitudinal edge portion along its edge opposite its inturned longitudinal edge forming a reentrant frame for an end door, a door in said reentrant frame hinged along one side thereof so that it may be swung outwardly, said bottom unit having a peripheral outwardly extending flange lip below and substantially parallel with the plane of the bottom and having a peripheral step intermediate the lip and the surface level ci said bottom for receiving one of the connecting rcn-es of each end unit and said top unit having a peripheral depending lip fitting over the other connecting zones of each end unit and over the upper peripheral edges of the side units and means for separably uniting said units, the said peripheral steps along the sides of the cabinet each having an upwardly extending lug for positioning the lower ends of the side units on said steps.

2. A display cabinet comprising separable major units, one of said units constituting the top of the cabinet, another the bottom, two others of relatively flat plate glass the sides,and two others the ends of said cabinet, said end units comprising opposed longitudinal edge frame structures each formed of superimposed angled members each of which is provided with adjacent resilient longitudinal edges offset towards each other substantially the entire length thereof forming channel portions for detachably receiving and aiding in resiliently supporting the peripheral edges of the plate glass side units and having connecting zones adjacent their opposite ends for the attachment of the top and bottom units, said bottom unit having a peripheral outwardly extending flange lip below and substantially parallel with the plane of the bottom and having a peripheral step intermediate the lip and the surface level of said bottom for receiving one of the connecting Zones of each end unit and said top unit having a peripheral depending lip tting over the other connecting zones of each end unit and over the plate glass side units and means for separa-bly uniting said units, the said peripheral steps along the sides of the cabinet having upwardly extending plates for aiding in positioning the lower ends of the side units on said steps.

3. A display cabinet comprising separable major units, one of said units constituting the top of the cabinet, another the bottom, two others of rela- 5 tively at sheet material, the sides, and two others the ends of said cabinet, said end units comprising opposed longitudinal edge frame structures each formed of superimposed angled members each having one of their respective sides spaced relative to each other to form channel portions for detachably receiving and aiding in supporting the p peripheral edges of the relatively at sides and having connecting Zones adjacent their opposite ends for the attachment of the top and bottom f units, one of said angled members having an angled longitudinal edge portion along its edge opposite the channel portion forming a reentrant frame for an end door, a door in said reentrant frame hinged along one side thereof so that it .f

ripheral depending lip fitting the other connecting zone of each end unit and the upper peripheral edges of the side units and means for separably uniting said units the said peripheral step along the sides of the cabinet having means for supporting the lower ends of the side units on said step. ,l

JOSEPH V. FLOOD. 

